Photographic web processing device

ABSTRACT

A web processing device in which a web containing a processing ingredient or solution such as a developer is brought into intimate pressure engagement with an exposed film for a predetermined time to effect processing of the film. Transport and guiding mechanisms are provided for the film and web for guiding the film and web in spaced relation through a processing station. Processing is achieved at the processing station by a member movable from a normal retracted position, in which it is out of engagement with the film and web, to a laminating position, in which it moves portions of the film and web into intimate pressure engagement for a predetermined time interval. The web and film are separated upon return of the member to its normal retracted position by the combined action of the tension on the web and the angles of approach and separation defined by the film and web when they are in pressure engagement. An auxiliary separator member may be provided movable between the film and web and across the processing station to separate the film and web.

United States Patent Gordon Feb. 8, 1972 [72] Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

Robert A. Gordon, Rochester, N.Y.

Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY.

[22] Filed: May 6,1970

[21] Appl.No.: 34,953

[52] US. Cl. ..95/94 R, 95/89 L, 118/257, 156/584 [51] Int. Cl. G031! 9/00 [58] FieldofSearch ..95l13, 89 R, 89 A, 89D, 94 R; 118/257; 156/230, 238, 240, 344, 549, 584

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 856,846 11/1952 Germany ..'.95/89 Dieffenbach et al ..95/ 89 Primary ExamineF-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner--Fred L. Braun AttorneyRobert W. Hampton and Steve W. Gremban [57] ABSTRACT A web processing device in which a web containing a processing ingredient or solution such as a developer is brought into intimate pressure engagement with an exposed film for a predetermined time to effect processing of the film. Transport and guiding mechanisms are provided for the film and web for guiding the film and web in spaced relation through a processing station. Processing is achieved at the processing station by a member movable from a normal retracted position, in which it is out of engagement with the film and web, to a laminating position, in which it moves portions of the film and web into intimate pressure engagement for a predetermined time interval. The web and film are separated upon return of the member to its normal retracted position by the combined action of the tension on the web and the angles of approach and separation defined by the film and web when they are in pressure engagement. An auxiliary separator member may be provided movable between the film and web and across the processing station to separate the film and web.

3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEU FEB 8 B72 SHEET 1 OF 6 FIG.|

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BY M fawn M ATTORNEYS PHOTOGRAPHIC WEB PROCESSING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to photographic processing apparatus, and more specifically to a processing device of the type in which a web containing a processing solution such as a developer is brought into and out of intimate pressure engagement with an exposed film for processing it.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is known in the photographic processing art to provide apparatus for processing an exposed film by mating the emulsion side of the exposed film with a web carrying a processing solution. When the film and web are compressed together by winding up the two on a common reel, development occurs by causing the relatively unexposed portions of the exposed film to be transferred to the web and the relatively exposed portions of the emulsion to be retained on the film. After development, the film and web are normally separated by rewinding the two materials on separate reels. A disadvantage of this type of processing device is that it is not readily possible to preview any portion or footage of the processed film representing a predetermined exposure run until the entire film has been exposed and processed, and the film and web separated and wound onto separate reels. Another disadvantage of such a processing device is that any previewing operation is complicated and time consuming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention includes within its scope a web processing device of the type in which a web containing a processing ingredient or solution such as a developer is moved into and out of intimate and preferably pressure engagement with an exposed film for processing it. The processing device is provided with a processing station, and means for transporting and guiding the film and web through the processing station along normal paths which are maintained in spaced relation to one another, and onto suitable takeup reels. The processing device is further provided with laminating means at the processing station movable from a normal retracted or delarninated position to a processing or laminated position for moving the film and web into intimate pressure engagement for movement in a laminated condition at the same speed for a predetermined time to effect processing. Upon return movement of the laminating means to its normal retracted position, separation of the film and web is automatically achieved by the forces and tension to which the film and web is subjected in conjunction with at least one of the angles of approach and separation defined by the film and web at the contact lines where the two are initially brought into pressure engagement and separated. 'Auxiliary separating means may be provided between the film and web and movable across the processing station for separating the film and web.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a web processing device of the type in which a film and web are brought into intimate pressure engagement for processing, and then immediately separated after the processing operation is completed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a web processing device of the type in which a film and web are moved into intimate pressure engagement for processing, in which the film and web are automatically separated following the processing operation by virtue of the tension on the film and web and the angles of approach and separation defined by the film and web at their contact lines where the two are initially brought into engagement and then separated.

The invention and its objects and advantages will become more apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments presented below.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a top plan schematic view of a web processing device of this invention'shown in a standby mode;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the processing device in a processing mode of operation with portions of the film and web in a laminated condition;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the processing device during the delaminating mode of operation;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the processing device at the completion of the delaminating mode; and

FIGS.' 5-9 are views similar to FIG. 1 showing modifications of the laminating mechanism.

LII

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Because processing devices are well known, the present description will be directed in particular to elements forming part of, or cooperating more directly with; the present invention, elements of the processing apparatus not specifically shown or described herein being understood to be selectable from those known in the art.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings, the processing device 8 of this invention is shown in schematic form as comprising a processing station indicated generally by the numeral 10, a film supply spindle 12 adjacent one end of the processing station 10 for receiving a reel 14 of exposed film,l6, a film takeup spindle 18 adjacent the opposite end of the processing station for supporting a spool 20 upon which the processed film 16 is wound, and a pair of guide rollers 22 rotatablyv mounted on fixed shafts 23 and located between the film supply and takeup spindles l2, 18 for guiding the film 16 along a normal path as seen in FIG. 1 through the processing station 10. The processing device 8 further has a web supply spindle 24 adjacent one end of the processing station 10 for supporting a spool 26 of web material 28 carrying a processing solution. The web 28 may be of a known type having an emulsion which is soaked in a processing solution. The processing device 8 further has a web takeup spindle 30 adjacent the opposite end of the processing station 10 for receiving a spool 32 onto which the web 28 is wound. Interposed between the web supply and takeup spindles 24, 30 are a pair of guide rollers 34 rotatably mounted on fixed shafts 35 and spaced from the aforementioned guide rollers 22 for guiding the web 28.

through processing station 10 along a normal web path as seen in FIG. 1 that is generally parallel to and spaced from the normal film path. 7

As indicated earlier, film processing is accomplished in this processing device by moving the film l6 and web 28 into intimate pressure engagement for a predetermined time interval to effect processing Test results have shown that satisfactory processing results are achieved when the predetermined time interval varies from 1 minute to 16 hours. A laminating mechanism 36 is provided at the processing station 10 to effect lamination of the film l6 and web 28 under pressure, and comprises a lever 38 secured to a stub shaft 40 and provided with a spindle 42 at each end of lever 38 for supporting rotatable pressure rollers 44 formed of any suitable resilient material. In the standby mode of the processing device 8 as seen in FIG. 1, the lever 38 and rollers 44 are in an initial normal position with the film l6 and web 28 passing between rollers 44. To laminate the film 16 and web 28, the shaft 40 and lever 38 are rotated initially in a clockwise direction as seen by the arrow in FIG. 1 from its normal position to an operative position to effect processing as seen in FIG. 2, and then back to its normal position as seen in FIG. 3 to affect delamination of the film l6 and web 28 and to complete a processing cycle. The rotation of shaft 40 and lever 38 is achieved by anysuitable mechanism, such as a motor 45 shown dotted in FIG. I drivingly connected to shaft 40 through any suitable clutch, not shown. In the first stage of the processing cycle, movement of lever 38 and rollers 44 in a clockwise direction (see arrow in FIG. I) to the operative position, causes the rollers 44 to engage the outer or back surfaces of the film l6 and web 28 and to urge them together into intimate pressure engagement as seen in FIG. 2. In this processing or lamination mode,

preferably at least one of the rollers 44 urges the web 28 and film 16 into pressure engagement with a backup roller 46 rotatably mounted on a fixed shaft 48. When the processor 8 is initially turned on the web takeup spindle 30 is driven by any suitable pacer motor 50 as seen dotted in FIG. 1 for winding the web 28 on the takeup spool 32. Another motor 52 drives the film takeup spindle 18 through any suitable friction clutch, not shown, for winding up the film as it is being processed. Substantially simultaneously with the operation of the motors 50, 52, the laminating rollers 44 are moved into the laminating mode by motor 45 and the film 16 and web 28 are transported together onto their respective takeup spools 20, 32. The extend to which the film 16 is processed is determined by several factors, such as, the transport speed of the film and web, the temperature of the film and web, and the distance over which the film and web are laminated.

When the required length of film 16 has been processed, delamination is achieved by disabling motors 50, 52 and enabling drive motor 45 for the laminating mechanism 36 causing the lever 38 and rollers 44 to return to their initial normal position as seen in FIG. 3. During such delamination mode of operation, the film l6 and web 28 are unsupported in the processing station and automatically begin to separate due to the combined action of forces and tension to which the film 16 and web 28 are subjected by motors 50, 52 during the processing operation, and the angles of approach and separation, A and B respectively, as seen in FIG. 2, defined by the film l6 and web 28 at their contact lines C and D where the two are initially brought into engagement and then separated respectively as seen in FIG. 2. It has been found that following a processing time of 30 minutes or less at substantially room temperature, and applying a separation force to the film and web of approximately 10 ounces, good separation between the film and web automatically occurs when the angles A and B of approach and separation respectively between the film and web are approximately 20 or more. When the approach and separation angles are less than approximately 20 the separation force increases rapidly. To assure separation of the film and web, an auxiliary separator is provided comprising one or more rollers 54 interposed between the film 16 and web 28 and mounted byany suitable means for reciprocal movement through the processing station 10 between normal position E and position F as best seen in FIG. 4 for positively assuring separation of the film l6 and web 28. The separation rollers 54 are returned to their initial position E and the processing device 8 is once again in its standby mode. The processed film 16 may now be moved back and forth between reel 14 and spool 20 to permit reading out or viewing of any portion of the processed film. This action may be accomplished by sequentially disabling motor 52 and enabling a motor 56 coupled to spindle 12 for rewinding film 16, and then disabling motor 56 and enabling motor 52 to wind the film on spool 20.

In FIGS. 5-9, the processing device of this invention is shown having different modifications of the laminating mechanism. The remaining parts of the processing device 8 that are similar to parts shown in FIGS. 1-4 will be denoted by the same numerals.

In FIG. 5, a laminating mechanism 58 is shown comprising two pairs of oppositely disposed rollers 60 having shafts that are reciprocally movable in corresponding slots 62 for moving rollers 60 between a laminated position as seen in full lines to effect processing by laminating the film 16 and web 28 under pressure, and a retracted position as seen in dotted lines to effect delamination of the film and web. Any suitable means, not shown, may be used to move the rollers 60, singly or together, between the engaged and disengaged positions.

In FIG. 6, a laminating mechanism 64 is shown comprising a pair of endless belts 66, each belt trained over a pair of spaced rollers 68. Each belt 66 is reciprocally moved by a linkage 70 having a part 72 extending through a slot 74 and coupled to any suitable drive means, not shown, for moving the belts 66 between a laminating position as seen in full lines in FIG. 6 for laminating the film 16 and web 28 under pressure to effect 16 is trained, and a pair of pivotal arms having rollers 82 at.

each end. The arms 80 are pivotally movable between a normal disengaged position as seen in full lines and an engaged position for laminating the film l6 and web 28 carrying a processing ingredient under pressure to effect processing as seen in dotted lines. When the arms 80 and rollers 82 are returned to their normal disengage position, the film l6 and web 28 delaminate as seen dotted due to forces and tensions to which the film and web are subjected and the angles of approach and separation A and B respectively, and eventually return to the full line position.

In FIG. 8, a laminating mechanism 84 is provided comprising an arcuate support member 86 over which the film 16 is directed with the aid of guide rollers 88. The web 28 carrying the processing ingredient is guided over guide rollers 90, and a pivotal arm 92 having a roller 94 at one end is movable between a normal disengaged position as seen in full lines and an engaged position for engaging the web and laminating the web and film over the arcuate support member 86 as seen in dotted lines to effect processing. The film l6 and web 28 automatically delaminate due to the forces and tensions to which the film and web are subjected and the angle of separation B upon return of the arm 92 and roller 94 to its normal disengaged position.

In FIG. 9, a laminating mechanism 96 is shown comprising a large backup roller 98 over which the film 16 is trained, and a pair of levers 100, each having a roller 102 at one end guided for reciprocal movement over which the web 28 is trained. The levers 100 and rollers 102 are moved between anormal disengaged position as seen in dotted lines and an engaged position for laminating the film 16 and web 28 as seen in full lines to effect processing. The lever moving means comprises eccentric cranks 104 coupled by crank pins 106 to the levers 100 and driven by meshed drive gears 108.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove.

I claim:

1. In a filmstrip processing device of the kind in which a filmstrip and a web carrying a processing substance are disposed in intimate pressured contact for a predetermined time to effect processing of the filmstrip, the combination comprising:

means for guiding a filmstrip along a normal path;

means for guiding a web carrying a processing substance along a normal path which is spaced from said normal filmstrip path; and

means for selectively moving at least one of such filmstrip and web between a normal position, wherein such filmstrip and web are disposed in their respective normal paths, and a processing position, wherein such filmstrip and web are disposed in intimate pressured contact to effect processing of such filmstrip;

said means for selectively moving including a filmstrip and web separator member and means for mounting said filmstrip and web separator member for movement between such filmstrip and web when disposed in intimate pressured contact.

2. In a filmstrip processing device of the kind in w ich an exposed filmstrip and a web carrying a processing s bstance are brought into intimate pressured contact, at a processing station, for a predetermined time to effect processing of such filmstrip, the combination comprising:

means for advancing, under tension, successive portions of an exposed filmstrip along a normal path which extends across said processing station;

means for advancing, under tension, a web carrying a processing substance along a normal path which extends across said processing station and which is spaced from said normal filmstrip path; and

means, located in said processing station, for selectively moving successive portions of at least one of such filmstrip and web between a normal position, wherein such filmstrip and web portions are respectively disposed in said normal filmstrip and web paths, and a processing position, wherein such filmstrip and web portions are disposed in intimate pressured contact to effect processing of such film strip;

said means for selectively moving including a filmstrip and web separation roller and means for mounting said roller processing substance along a normal path which extends across said processing station and which is spaced from said normal filmstrip path;

a pair of roller members;

means for mounting said roller members within said processing station, in spaced relation, and in a manner such that said normal filmstrip and web paths extend between said roller members;

said mounting means including means for supporting said roller members (1) for movement in a first manner respectively across said normal filmstrip and web paths for deflecting successive portions of such filmstrip and web from said normal filmstrip and web paths into intimate pressured contact with each other and (2) for movement in a second, opposite, manner respectively across said normal filmstrip and web paths for enabling such filmstrip and web, so deflected, to return form intimate pressured contact with each other to said nonnal filmstrip and web paths;

a filmstrip and web separator member; and

means for mounting said filmstrip and web separator member for movement between such filmstrip and web when in intimate pressured contact.

I 1 III III 1F 

1. In a filmstrip processing device of the kind in which a filmstrip and a web carrying a processing substance are disposed in intimate pressured contact for a predetermined time to effect processing of the filmstrip, the combination comprising: means for guiding a filmstrip along a normal path; means for guiding a web carrying a processing substance along a normal path which is spaced from said normal filmstrip path; and means for selectively moving at least one of such filmstrip and web between a normal position, wherein such filmstrip and web are disposed in their respective normal paths, and a processing position, wherein such filmstrip and web are disposed in intimate pressured contact to effect processing of such filmstrip; said means for selectively moving including a filmstrip and web separator member and means for mounting said filmstrip and web separator member for movement between such filmstrip and web when disposed in intimate pressured contact.
 2. In a filmstrip processing device of the kind in which an exposed filmstrip and a web carrying a processing substance are brought into intimate pressured contact, at a processing station, for a predetermined time to effect processing of such filmstrip, the combination comprising: means for advancing, under tension, successive portions of an exposed filmstrip along a normal path which extends across said processing station; means for advancing, under tension, a web carrying a processing substance along a normal path which extends across said processing station and which is spaced from said normal filmstrip path; and means, located in said processing station, for selectively moving successive portions of at least one of such filmstrip and web between a normal position, wherein such filmstrip and web portions are respectively disposed in said normal filmstrip and web paths, and a processing position, wherein such filmstrip and web portions are disposed in intimate pressured contact to effect processing of such filmstrip; said means for selectively moving including a filmstrip and web separation roller and means for mounting said roller for movement between such filmstrip and web when disposed in intimate pressured contact.
 3. In a filmstrip processing device of the kind in which an exposed filmstrip and a web carrying a processing substance are brought into intimate pressured contact, at a processing station, for a predetermined time to effect processing of such filmstrip, the combination comprising: means for advancing, under tension, successive portions of an exposed filmstrip along a normal path which extends across said processing station; means for advancing, under tension, a web carrying a processing substance along a normal path which extends across said processing station and which is spaced from said normal filmstrip path; a pair of roller members; means for mounting said roller members within said processing station, in spaced relation, and in a manner such that said normal filmstrip and web paths extend between said roller members; said mounting means including means for supporting said roller members (1) for movement in a first manner respectively across said normal filmstrip and web paths for deflecting successive portions of such filmstrip and web from said normal filmstrip and web paths into intimate pressured contact with each other and (2) for movement in a second, opposite, manner respectively across said normal filmstrip and web paths for enabling such filmstrip and web, so deflected, to return from intimate pressured contact with each other to said normal filmstrip and web paths; a filmstrip and web separator member; and means for mounting said filmstrip and web separator member for movement between such filmstrip and web when disposed in intimate pressured contact. 